Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen Sparks Controversy by Publicly Endorsing Lawyer in Immigration Cases

Judge Michal Agmon-Gonen of the Tel Aviv District Court, known for her controversial rulings favoring infiltrators and migrants, has ignited a new controversy. i24NEWS reporter Avishai Greenzweig revealed that Agmon-Gonen publicly recommended a specific lawyer who frequently appears before her, calling him "the best" in response to a request for an immigration lawyer recommendation in a forum of 516 female legal professionals.

This endorsement drew sharp criticism from former Deputy State Attorney Yehuda Shafir, who expressed disbelief and questioned the propriety of a judge participating in such a forum. Greenzweig confirmed the authenticity of the recommendation, prompting Shafir to respond that it was "definitely unacceptable" and that they would wait to see what consequences might follow.

In May, Agmon-Gonen gave an interview on Tel Aviv University's podcast outlining her personal views on immigration, which appear to influence her judicial decisions. She advocated for compassion and tolerance toward asylum seekers and refugees in Israel, sharing a personal story about her mother, a Holocaust survivor, who offered to hide migrants facing deportation. Agmon-Gonen criticized past government efforts to deport migrant families, describing scenes of children being taken from schools for removal.

She called for Israeli society to adopt a more humane and inclusive approach toward foreigners, drawing a parallel to the biblical story of Ruth the Moabite and expressing hope that modern Israel would be more welcoming to asylum seekers and foreign spouses of Israeli citizens. Agmon-Gonen concluded with an optimistic message urging the country to embrace the spirit of acceptance symbolized by the Shavuot holiday.

The judge's public endorsement of a lawyer and her outspoken immigration stance have raised questions about judicial impartiality and the boundaries of judges' public conduct in Israel.